Total Smoking Ban Leads To Better Chances Of Quitting

A recently released study is recommending a total smoking ban to improve the chances of smokers of kicking the habit.

According to Dr. Wael Al-Delaimy of the University of California, San Diego, the anti-smoking restriction should begin in the household level. “When there’s a total smoking ban in the home, we found that smokers are more likely to reduce tobacco consumption and attempt to quit than when they’re allowed to smoke in some parts of the house,” he said in a news report.

The study, which was published in the journal Preventive Medicine December 26, involved more than 1,700 California smokers who were subjected to a survey. Results showed that women as well as adults 65 years and older had an increased likelihood of quitting, if a total smoking ban is done at home.

In addition, Dr. Al-Delaimy cited the importance of city ordinances that will totally ban smoking, saying that the effects of total home bans are also mirrored in a city-wide scope. “The same held true when smokers report a total smoking ban in their city or town. Having both home and city bans on smoking appears to be even more effective,” he said. In fact, according to survey results, men were more likely to quit if cities implemented total smoking bans within the area of jurisdiction.

If the household has no children, the impact of total smoking bans at home becomes highlighted. Researchers attribute this to the idea that the main focus of the ban is not to protect kids from secondhand smoke exposure, but rather to simply quit smoking.